Leave to enter is the permission given by British immigration officers for entry to the United Kingdom and the Crown Dependencies.[1]
Under the Immigration Rules (a key piece of immigration legislation in the UK), anyone who is does not have right of abode requires leave to enter. Generally, only British citizens (though not all British nationals) and some Commonwealth citizens have right of abode.[2] Under the Common Travel Area provisions, Irish citizens do not require leave to enter or remain, unless they have been excluded from this right by the UK Government. Leave to enter is required at any point of entry, including through the Channel Tunnel and the land border with Ireland.[1]
A person who has been granted leave to enter does not necessarily have the automatic right to enter Britain. The ultimate decision of entry is made by an immigration officer at the port of entry under paragraph 2A of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971.[1]